Wire line retrievable borehole tool assembly



Oct 28, 1969 M. H. MADELEY, SR 3,474,360 WIRE LINE RETRIEVABLE BOREHOLE TOOL ASSEMBLY 7 Filed Dec. 20, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1- M/Ymn hf Made/ey, 8/:

IN VENTOR.

WIRELINE RETRIEVABLE BOREHOLE TOOL ASSEMBLY Filed Deg. 20. 1966 Oct. 28, 1969 I M. H. MADELEY, SR

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR. @mmfiu. BY M WIRE LINE RETRIEVABLE BOREHOLE TOOL ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 20, 1966 0d. 19 69 M. H. MADE-LEY, SR

5 Sheets-Sheet s llll' INVENTOR.

. 1 Y Wm Milton H Made/ey, .5:

United States Patent O ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A seating section, forming part of a work tube string inserted into a borehole, receives a suspension element dropped or run into the string with a wire line. The sus pension element is keyed to the seating section for rotation with the pipe string and is retrievable therefrom by the wire line. Fluid is pumped into the string to hold down the suspension element which also conducts the fluid to a location below the seating section for washing or testing purposes. Wash pipes, valve assemblies and various tools may be supported from the suspension element at the desired location and retrieved therewith from the borehole.

RELATED APPLICATION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to apparatus involved in borehole operations and more particularly to the drilling, washing, and finishing of new and old boreholes in connectionwith oil, gas or water wells.

Several operations and different tools are often required in connection with the placement of a borehole into a producing condition. The use of retrievable tools in order to perform several operations have been proposed whereby the time and expense may be reduced. The retrievable tools in such cases are suspended from the lower ends of the string of tubular pipes through which fluid is conducted and have therefore been very limited in the type of operation or installation to which they are applicable. The apparatus associated with the present invention is therefore significant in that it permits the use of retrievable tool assemblies within pipe strings performing many different operations, such apparatus capable of not only being withdrawn but also capable of being reused subsequently in the same installation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention,-the tubular work string extending through a borehole includes a seating section spaced above the lower end of the string and especially designed to receive a suspension element dropped into the string and capable of being retrieved therefrom by a wire line. The suspension element is provided at its lower end with a coupling portion to which different tools may be connected including wash pipes and valve assemblies. A fluid passage is therefore formed through the suspension element in fluid communication with the flow passage of the pipe string thereabove through inlet ports formed in an upper holddown pressure face of the suspension element. A retrieving head extends upwardly from the upper pressure face so as to be grasped by a wire line hook. Further, the suspension element is provided with keys received in keyways formed in the seating section of the pipe string so that the suspension element together with any tools attached thereto may be Claims 3,474,860 Patented Oct. 28, 1969,

rotated with the pipe string. The string may accordingly be drilled downwardly through a borehole while sand, debris and other matter is washed upwardly on the outside thereof toward the surface in connection with certain types of operations.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a vertical section through a lower portion of a well showing in partial section the apparatus of the present invention in one installational environment.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical section through a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially through a plane indicated by section line 33 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical section through another portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section view through a portion of another installation with parts shown in section depicting the apparatus of the present invention being lowered into position.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged vertical section showing the apparatus of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a vertical section through a well showing DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIGURES 1 through 4 illustrate one embodiment of the invention wherein a work string of pipe generally referred to by reference numeral 10 is positioned within the borehole of a well, the upper portion of which is cased by the casing 12. The work string includes a screen section 14 which may be in the form of a perforated or slotted liner, strainer or wire wrap screen made of steel or any drillable material. As shown in FIGURE 1, the screen section 14 is positioned adjacent a producing formation 16 exposed to the open borehole 17 below the cased portion of the borehole. The screen section 14 may be of any desired length connected to a bottom hole assembly 18 and to the lower end of the drill string by a blank liner 20. The liner 20 is hung within the cased portion of the borehole by a conventional packer 22, liner hanger or safety joint after the string 10 has been inserted to the desired location positioning the screen section 14 as illustrated.

The string 10 is made up of the usual tubing sections 24 interconnected by coupling collars 26. However, a

- special seating section 28 is disposed within the string f g 3 downwardly converging bore 32 having keyways 34 formed therein. The suspension element 30 is provided with a pair of keys 36 adapted to be slidingly received within the keyways 34, the keys 36 projecting laterally from the elongated body portion 38 of the element. When fully seated as shown in FIGURE 2, the externally threaded coupling portion 40 of the element 30 projects downwardly from the tapered bore 32 so that the element 30 may be connected by means of the internally threaded coupling element 42 to a flow conducting tool such as a small diameter wash pipe 44. Fluid communication is established with the wash pipe 44 through the element 30 by means of a fluid passage 46 formed centrally therewithin, the fluid passage extending from the coupling portion 40 at the lower end of the element to a chamber 48 adjacent the upper end of the element. The chamber 48 is closed at its upper end by a holddown pressure face 50 within which a plurality of inlet ports 52 are formed. Also extending upwardly from the pressure face is a retrieving head 54. It will be apparent therefore, that fluid under pressure pumped into the string above the seating section 28, will hold down the element 30 in addition to the weight of any tools suspended therefrom. Further, the element 30 together with any parts suspended therefrom will be rotated together with the string and may conduct fluid under pressure pumped into the string at the surface to a location below the seating section. Finally, by means of the retrieving head 54, the element 30 together with any parts attached thereto may be withdrawn upwardly from the string.

As more clearly seen in FIGURE 4, the bottom hole assembly 18 includes a liner 56, the lower end of which is provided with a back pressure valve assembly including a valve seat 58. The lower end of the liner is externally threaded so as to connect the liner by means of the internally threaded coupling 60 to a conventional tool 62 such as a rock bit or drag bit. A valve chamber 64 is formed between the valve seat 58 and an annular spring seat 66 internally mounted within the tool 62 adjacent the externally threaded upper end to which the coupling 60 is connected. A spring element 68 seated on the annular element 62 urges a spherical check valve element 70 into engagement with the valve seat 58 so as to block flow of fluid under pressure from the borehole into the wash pipe 44, the lower end 72 of which is spaced above the back pressure valve assembly described.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the tool 62, connected to the lower end of a drill string made up of components as described in connection with FIGURE 1, may be rotated in order to downwardly displace the drill string and position the screen section 14 at the producing location 16. The borehole and screen section 14 may be washed as the drill string is being downwardly displaced by seating the element 30 and the wash pipe 44 suspended therefrom within the seating section 28 and pumping fluid therethrough. While being inserted, the back pressure valve 70 will prevent any flow into the wash pipe from the borehole. Once the screen section 14 has been properly positioned within the open borehole 17 adjacent to the producing section 16 and washed by flow of fluid under pressure circulated downwardly from the wash pipe 44 through the back pressure valve 70 and into the open borehole toward the surface, circulation may be stopped and the packer 22 inserted and expanded to seal the drill string within the cased portion of the borehole above the screen section as shown in FIGURE 1. The wash pipe and suspension element 30 may then be withdrawn from the drill string by a retrieving wire line to place the well in production. At any time thereafter, the Wash pipe and suspension element may be reinserted and the packer 22 collapsed should it become necessary to wash the borehole and screen section once again.

In FIGURE 5, a drill string generally referred to by reference numeral 74 is shown having conventional drill collars 76 connected to the lower end thereof within the casing 78 of a cased borehole, the drill collars extending downwardly into the open borehole 79. The drill string 74 includes at any desired location, the seating section 80 which is similar in construction to the seating section 28 described in connection with FIGURES 1 through 3. Accordingly, the seating section 80 is adapted to receive a suspension element 82 similar to the suspension element 30 hereinbefore described. As shown in FIGURE 5, the suspension element 82 is inserted through the drill string by means of the retrieving wire line 84 to a fully seated position within the seating section 80 as shown in FIG- URE 7.

In the installation shown in FIGURES 5 and 7, the suspension element 82 is operative to removably position a back pressure valve assembly 84 within the drill string above the drill collars in order to shut off flow of fluid from the well. Toward this end, the valve assembly 84 is connected to the lower coupling end of the suspension element 82 by means of a shiftable locking assembly 86. As more clearly seen in FIGURE 6, the lower coupling portion of the suspension element 82 is connected to the internally threaded upper end portion of a coupling conduit 88 the lower end of which is threadedly connected to a tool mandrel 90 associated with the valve assembly 84. The mandrel 90 includes a large diameter end portion 92 enclosing a valve chamber 94 within which the ball valve element 96 is disposed. The mandrel 90 is provided with slots 98 through which screw elements 100 extend from an elongated floating valve seat 102 into bayonet slots 99 in a locking sleeve 112. The seat 102 has sealing rings 104 and 106 adjacent lower and upper ends thereof within the mandrel 90 and the conduit 88 respectively. A fluid passage 108 is formed in the floating seat 102 so as to establish fluid communication between the fluid passage in the suspension element 82 and the valve chamber 94. Also connected to the large diameter portion 92 of the mandrel opposite the lower end of the valve seat 102, is a perforated strainer element 110 which mounts a transverse pin so as to limit movement of the valve element 96.

The screw elements 100 interconnect the floating valve seat 102 with the locking sleeve 112 of the assembly 86 by means of which upward pressure on the back pressure valve assembly 84 is prevented from upwardly displacing the suspension element from its seating section by wedging the upper slotted portion 113 of sleeve 112 between element 82 and the wall of casing 78 before any axial abutment occurs between valve seat 102 and conduit 88. It will be apparent therefore, that the valve element 96 will not only block flow of fluid into the conduit 88 as the suspension element is being dropped into the drill string but will also shut off flow of fluid from the well once the suspension element is seated as shown in FIG- URE 7. The fluid flow will be blocked since the pressure of the fluid will displace the valve element 96 into engagement with the valve seat 102 as shown in FIGURE 6 upwardly displacing the locking sleeve 112 to prevent any upward force from being transferred to the suspension element 82.

The same components hereinbefore described in connection with FIGURES 5 through 7, may be withdrawn from the drill string 74 by a wire line and reassembled in order to convert the valve assembly 84 into a standing valve for pressure testing purposes. As shown in FIG- URES 8 and 9, the lower coupling end of the suspension element 82 is then connected to the mandrel 90 to form the valve chamber 94 adjacent thereto and the strainer element 110 threadedly connected to the end of the conduit 88. The drill string above the suspension element 82 may then be filled with fluid 111 so as to hold the valve element 96 in its closed position as shown in FIGURE 9 under a predetermined pressure. Thus, the pressure within the well at any desired location may be tested by detecting upward flow of fluid therefrom when the internal borehole pressure exceeds the predetermined pressure holding the valve element 96 in its closed position.

Referring now to FIGURE 10, it will be observed that the suspension element 82 as described in connection with FIGURES 5 and 6 is seated within a seating section 114 of the drill string 116 and is coupled at its lower end to a circulating sleeve 118 having ports 120 located above a conventional packer 122 which centers the circulating sleeve within the casing 124 of a cased borehole. The casing includes a perforated section 126 through which fluid is extracted from the well. In accordance with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGURE 10, any fillup within the cased borehole may be cleaned out by means of a finishing tool or hit 128 suspended from the suspension element 82. A rotating and telescoping coupling assembly 130 connects the bit 128 to the lower end of a wash pipe 132 extending downwardly through the packer 122 from the lower end of the drill string. The wash pipe 132 is in turn connected to the suspension element 82 by the back pressure valve assembly 84 and valve locking assembly 86 as hereinbefore described in connection with FIGURES 5 through 7.

As more clearly seen in FIGURE 11, the lower end of the wash pipe 132 is connected by a threaded adapter coupling 134 to the upper, internally threaded end of an outer barrel 136 of the coupling assembly 130. The outer barrel is provided with a spiral groove 138 within which a pin 140 rides. The pin 140 extends through an inner barrel 144 and is engaged with an axially displaceable locking ring 142. The inner barrel is sealed by the sealing rings 146 within the outer barrel adjacent its upper end and connected at its lower end to the bit 128. A retracting spring 148 is connected at one end to the locking ring 150 seated in the adapter coupling 134. It will be apparent therefore, that fluid under pressure supplied to the coupling assembly 130 from the wash pipe 132 will downwardly displace the inner barrel 144 and the bit 128 connected thereto relative to the outer barrel against the bias of the retracting spring 148 as the fluid is discharged from the ports 152 within the bit. Such downward displacement of the inner barrel will cause it to rotate because of the transverse pin 140 riding in the spiral groove 138 of the outer barrel. Thus, the fluid pumped into the drill string will operate the finishing tool bit 128 and wash the producing zone by circulating fluid upwardly from the cased borehole below the packer 122 into the circulating sleeve 118 and out through the ports 120 toward the surface on the outside of the drill string. After the well has been placed in a producing condition, the finishing tool 128 may be withdrawn, together with the suspension element 82 from which it is suspended, by means of a retrieving wire line and the ports 120 in the sleeve 118 closed in accordance with well known procedures.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the apparatus and components of the present invention may be made of steel or drillable materials depending on the type of well and operation to be performed and are assembled in combination with other conventional components utilized in borehole operations resulting in a substantial savings in time and expense. This and other advantages arise from the ability of the apparatus of the present invention to suspend tools of different types from a location within a drill string spaced above its lower end and its ability to withdraw and reinsert such tools at any time when called for without removal of working tools from the lower end of the string of pipe.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination within a rotatable tubular string within a borehole, a working tool connected to the string and a valve assembly blocking flow in one direction, the improvement comprising a tubular seating section in said string located in fixed spaced relation substantially above the working tool, a suspension element seated in said tubular seating section having an elongated body keyed to the tubular seating section for rotation with the tubular string, a coupling portion at a lower end of the body, a holddown pressure face at an upper end of the body and a retrieving head projecting upwardly from said pressure face, said body being provided with a fluid passage extending from ports in said pressure face through the coupling portion, and conduit means connected to the coupling portion for extension into the tubular string below the seating section, said valve assembly blocking flow between the fluid passage and the working tool in one direction.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said working tool is a bottom hole assembly connected to a lower end of the string and mounting the valve assembly in spaced relation below the conduit means and a screen section mounted in the tubular string below the seating section.

3. In combination within a tubular string within a borehole, a working tool connected to the string and a valve assembly blocking flow in one direction, the improvement comprising a tubular seating section in said string located in fixed spaced relation substantially above the working tool, a suspension element seated in said tubular seating section having an elongated body keyed to the tubular seating section for rotation with the tubular string, a coupling portion at a lower end of the body, a holddown pressure face at an upper end of the body and a retrieving head projecting upwardly from said pressure face, said body being provided with a fluid passage extending from ports in said pressure face through the coupling portion, and conduit means connected to the coupling portion for extension into the tubular string below the seating section, said valve assembly blocking flow between the fluid passage and the working tool in one direction, locking means axially movable relative to the conduit means mounting the valve assembly on the conduit means within the tubular string below the seating section.

4. The combination of claim 3 including a wash pipe interconnecting the valve assembly and the working tool which is positioned below the tubular string within the borehole.

5. The combination of claim 4 including a circulating sleeve connected to the lower end of the string from which the wash pipe extends and a packer centering the sleeve Within the borehole, the sleeve having ports through which fluid is circulated upwardly from the boghole below the packer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,139,983 12/1938 Stone 166--156 X 2,652,117 9/1953 Arendt et a1. 166-158 X 2,725,107 11/ 1955 Abendroth et a1.

2,782,860 2/ 1957 Tausch et al.

2,905,249 9/1959 Ownbey 166157 X 2,990,017 6/1961 Powers 166-157 3,163,226 12/ 1964 Lagucki 166156 X CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner IAN A. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 166217, 314 

